Pierre DIMBA, Minister of Health of Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire has made significant progress in terms of economic growth, infrastructure development and political stability. Nevertheless, more than 1.2 million people are experiencing a so-called “crisis” level of food insecurity. In addition, 3.4 million people are in a situation of so-called “stress” in terms of food security, while malnutrition remains a public health problem, particularly among women and children. Natural hazards, environmental degradation and structural fragilities contribute to food insecurity.

At the same time, the increasing pressure on natural resources and local services makes it all the more necessary to put in place integrated and sustainable solutions driven at the national level. The legitimacy of the multisectoral nutrition strategic plan comes from the often-irreversible consequences of the double burden of malnutrition, the complexity of its causes and the need to address it through a multisectoral and multi-stakeholder approach, particularly with regard to human resources. However, the general situation in this area highlights the limits of this sector:

• The supply is limited and unevenly distributed: professionals specializing in nutrition and dietetics (dieticians, clinical nutritionists, community nutritionists) are few and mostly concentrated in large cities, particularly Abidjan. Rural and peripheral areas are largely under-resourced,

• Multiplication of non-specialized actors: a significant part of nutritional activities (children, pregnancy, acute/moderate malnutrition, food education) is provided by general practitioners, nurses, community health workers and NGOs, often with little or no nutritional training,

• Training and courses: existing training remains insufficient and does not take into account the essential therapeutic dimension. Training capacity remains insufficient in relation to national needs, and the quality/standardization of curricula is often inadequate.

Numerous meetings were organized at the Ministry of Health jointly by USF and the Rector of the IUA to explain the link between the national situation prevailing in Côte d’Ivoire in food insecurity and this vocational training. Following these exchanges, the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Health Coverage indicated, in a letter dated November 9, 2025 addressed to the Minister of Higher Education: “In view of these priorities, I bring to your attention my approval of the implementation of a professional license “Health professions, “Human nutrition and dietetics” in the universities of Nangui Abrogoua, Félix Houphouët-Boigny and the University Institute of Abidjan in collaboration with the universities of Tours (France), the Haute École de la Province de Liège (HEPL) in Belgium and the NGO Universitaires sans Frontières (France).”

A framework of collaboration between these national and international professional and academic institutions is being put in place to ensure the management of this new professional training. In addition, and at the initiative of USF, an Erasmus+ project of the European Commission is being prepared to facilitate the implementation of this new sector.